Two Ansar men arrested over rape at Manikganj General Hospital

Two Bangladesh Ansar personnel have been arrested after allegedly raping a woman at the 250-bed General Hospital in Manikganj on Sunday night.

Superintendent of Police in Manikganj, Mohammad Sarwar Alam, confirmed the arrest.

According to police, the victim and her husband were travelling from Narayanganj to a relative’s house in Betila under Manikganj's Sadar upazila when the van carrying them ran out of power near the Manikganj bus stand around 2:00 am. Seeking safety, they went to the hospital’s main gate, where Ansar personnel Shahadat Hossain and Abu Sayeed, who were on duty, offered assistance. The men then took the couple inside, separating the woman and leaving her husband on the ground floor. On the first floor of the hospital building, the two men allegedly threatened and raped her.

"The victim later came down to the ground floor and informed her husband. Together, they filed a complaint at Manikganj Police Station. Police immediately called all Ansar personnel on duty to the station, where the woman identified the accused. Both were taken into custody, and her medical examination is underway," said Mohammad Sarwar.

Kamruzzaman, commandant of the Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defense Force district office, confirmed that the accused have been expelled from the force.

He said a two-member investigation committee, headed by Upazila Ansar and VDP officer Shamima Akter, has been formed to probe the incident.

“The responsibility for the crimes committed lies with the accused. Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defense Force will not take responsibility for them,” he added.

Dr Mohammad Bahauddin, superintendent of the hospital, said the accused Ansar men will be summoned for questioning, and necessary action will be taken.

He confirmed that the victim is currently receiving treatment.